Ateneum, The Place to Be

Like most of you already know this Tuesday was my first day in my new summer job. I started as an exhibition warden (can you say that???) in the Ateneum, Finnish National Gallery. So in order to honour that, I'll write something about the museum I'm working in. The original idea was also compare it to National Gallery of Ireland which I visited while staying in Ireland in the end of June but I don't have enough energy to do that. Sorry!

So instead I'm going to write a little about my new job which is quite random, considering the fact I don't actually have anything to do with art (well, I did graduated from Helsinki Senior Secondary School of Visual Art but that was ages ago...). Like always, I got this one through a friend, to tell the truth ;) They needed someone urgently to oversee the exhibitions in the museum for the next two months. So I said yes, partly cos I needed the money, partly cos I was interested to know what it is like.

My actual job is to pay attention to people entering into exhibitions. I know what you're thinking now: That can't be too exciting. Well, sometimes it can be quite boring and tiring when there isn't that many people around and it feels like there's way too many hours until the closing time. But most of the time it is in fact a rather rewarding thing to do. To begin with my habit to watch people: at least now I'll get paid for doing it! And I also always find time to appreciate art. There is several really exciting exhibitions going on (e.g. Music and Silence - Finnish Symbolism) and the permanent collection ain't that bad either (especially now during the summertime when two major pieces, Boy with a Crow and Old Woman and Cat by Akseli Gallen-Kallela is being displayed). So I have managed to rediscovered my old passion for art :)

Quite often I have found myself deep in thought (hmm, not that good thing if you're troubled by something or someone...). So most of my time at work I'm spending in a kind of trance. Sometimes I almost feel like being a part of exhibition or at least the furniture ;) Sounds weird I know. But the job isn't the most ordinary one either. I'm more like a walking forbidden sign than a person: I'm telling people all the time not to take pictures of the paintings, carry their backpacks with them or touch the pieces. You aren't allowed to carry around water bottles or let small children run around either. However most of the time it feels like I'm not existing. Majority of the visitors looks straight through me or enter the room without greeting. And maybe that's a good thing: both me and they have done everything right if they can wander around the exhibition without noticing me...

But now I'm going to head to the sofa to watch some telly while lifting my poor feet up. Tomorrow is yet another day standing in the exhibition (we only allowed to sit down when there's no visitors around - and trust me it doesn't happen that often).

PS. If you happen to be in Helsinki on any given Wednesday before the 2nd of September, come to say hi to me. The museum is free on every Wed from 5 pm on...